Flexible, linked jewelry beads

ABSTRACT

Flexible series of linked jewelry beads include a plurality of large hollow bead members which are joined together by smaller shaped spacer links. The bead members have diametrally opposed holes which have a diameter of about 30 to 50 percent of the maximum diameter of the bead members. The spacer links include a central decorative spacer portion and a pair of enlarged head portions on opposite sides of the spacer portion which engage, through the holes, the inside surface of the bead members. The head portions are each joined to the spacer portion by a neck portion having a diameter of about 40 to 60 percent of the diameter of the spacer portion, thus making the spacer portion distinct. The beads are automatically manufactured, spaced and connected by forming a continuous series of joined spacer links from a tubular element, thereafter forming the large bead members around the spacer links, and then separating the spacer links and the large beads into a uniform series of large beads and smaller distinct spacer shapes.

United States Patent Taubner, Jr.

[451 Aug. 22, 1972 [72] Inventor: Valentine J. Taubner, Jr., 960

[58] Field of Search ..59/2, 35, l, 78, 80, 82, 91, 59/DlG. 1; 63/2, 4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,087,876 2/1914 Goodridge ..59/2 408,314 8/1889 Moore ..59/2 1,052,852 2/1913 Sochor ..59/2

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany ..59/2

Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant ExaminerGene P. Crosby Att0rneyBrumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & Raymond ABSTRACT Flexible series of linked jewelry beads include a plurality of large hollow bead members which are joined together by smaller shaped spacer links. The bead members have diametrally opposed holes which have a diameter of about 30 to 50 percent of the maximum diameter of the bead members. The spacer links include a central decorative spacer portion and a pair of enlarged head portions on opposite sides of the spacer portion which engage, through the holes, the inside surface of the bead members. The head portions are each joined to the spacer portion by a neck portion having a diameter of about 40 to 60 percent of the diameter of the spacer portion, thus making the spacer portion distinct. The beads are automatically manufactured, spaced and connected by forming a continuous series of joined spacer links from a tubular element, thereafter forming the large bead members around the spacer links, and then separating the spacer links and the large beads into a uniform series of large beads and smaller distinct spacer shapes.

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUBZZIQYZ I 3,685,284 SHEETIUFZ INVENTOR. VALENTINE J. TAUBNER, JR

Wi flmA/W A TTORNEYS PATENTEDAum I972 3,685,284

' sum 2 or 2 @Gifl QlENE@54591549919499151 A; ae L I INVENTOR VALENTINE J. TAUBNEFLJR his A TTORNEYS FLEXIBLE, LINKED JEWELRY BEADS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to novel flexible, linked hollow beads for jewelry purposes, and to a method for automatic spacing and assembly of such beads. The linked beads according to the invention give the appearance of hand-strung, spaced beads without having the many disadvantages of them.

Conventional linked beads or strung beaded shapes which are commonly worn around the neck are made by passing a central strand through holes in solid or hollow beads. Although beads thus constructed are relatively simple to manufacture, and are particularly suitable to manual techniques of assembly, the final product has several distinct limitations. In particular, the central strand must be tightly strung so that the beads remain in identical formation and close to one another. The tight stringing required, however, decreases the flexibility and the free-hanging characteristics of the strung beads. Flexibility is often decreased to such an extent in conventionally strung beads, especially with larger sized beads, that the beads do not fall in a smooth-flowing arc when worn around the neck, but rather form a distorted are making the product undesirable for jewelry purposes. Furthermore, it is very difficult to remove or replace the bead members of strung beads without leaving any unsightly visible knots when the internal binding string must be severed and rejoined. If the binding string must be severed or is inadvertently broken, it is often necessary to restring the entire set of beads. Uniformity in appearance and finish is also a problem when distinct shapes must be treated in separate operations before being strung. Still another problem associated with the conventional string of beads is that the handwork required to manufacture them, although once a desirable feature, is now relatively inefficient from an economists viewpoint in the light of the manufacturing advantages of automatic machinery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, flexible, linked jewelry beads giving the appearance of hand-strung beads are manufactured by a continuous method which can be substantially automated. The linked beads include a plurality of spherical, relatively large bead members, which are formed from an attractive, decorative material, and which are jointed together by a plurality of spacer links. The spacer links include a central portion which is formed into a decorative shape, and a pair of head portions oppositely disposed about the central spacer portion, with each of the head portions being coupled to the spacer portion by a neck portion having a relatively small diameter.

The large bead members are hollow and have a pair of diametrally opposed holes. The spacer links extend through the holes, with the head portions of each spacer link being received in the hollow cavities of successive bead members, thereby linking the bead members, concealing the holes, and providing decorative and flexible linked beads having a plurality of smaller decorative portions spacing a plurality of larger bead elements apart.

Specific dimensional relationships are provided between the bead members and the spacer links so that the linked beads will hang in a smooth-flowing arc, with the beads and the spacers retaining their formation and pitch at all times, even when suspended to form a curve having a relatively small radius. More particularly, the diameter of the holes of the bead members is made relatively large to about 30 to 50 percent of the maximum diameter of the bead member. The diameter of the head portions of the spacer links is about 120 to I50 percent of the diameter of the hole, and the diameter of the neck portions is about 40 to percent of the diameter of the spacer portion. The central spacer portion has a maximum outside diameter slightly less than the diameter of the bead holes.

There is further provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for manufacturing the novel linked beads previously described which includes forming a continuous length of integrally joined spacer links from a singular tubular member. The spacer portion, the neck portions, and the head portions as described above are formed while the spacer links are joined together. A relatively sharp angle is also formed at the point where adjacent spacer links are joined to facilitate the fracturing of the material and the separation or breaking apart of the links in a subsequent operation. 'After the spacer links are completely formed, they are delivered conjointly with a flat strip from which the bead members are to be made through a draw bushing, which wraps the flat strip around the joined spacer links to form a large hollow seamed tube coaxially around the spacer links. A plurality of bead members are then progressively formed on the tube, with each bead member being disposed around a pair of adjacent bead portions on successive spacer links. The spacer links are then broken apart by bending the assembly over rollers, thereby allowing the distinct spacer shape to position itself between the large hollow beads, with the spacer heads linking the large hollow beads and visually concealing the large hollow beads holes in an easily automated operation.

The linked, large hollow beads according to the invention hang freely with no distortion. Bead elements may easily be removed or added by opening the beads at the seam remaining after the forming operations, and then separating the bead member from the spacer links. Because of the design parameters of the linkage elements, greater flexibility is provided along with a very attractive and uniform decorative effect.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged elevational view in partial section of flexible, linked beads according to the invention having spherical bead members coupled by spacer links having a spherical spacer portion.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a bead member taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a spacer link taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGS. 4-6 are elevational views of spacer links having spacer portions of different shapes.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the progressive formation of the spacer links from a hollow tubular member.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates the forming of the bead members around the spacer links.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a method of breaking the spacer links apart at their breaking point.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS With reference to the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, decorative and flexible linked beads include a plurality of bead members 20a and 20b which each enclose a cavity 22a and 22b, respectively. The bead members 20a and 20b are preferably made of a decorative material, such as a metal having high lustrous qualities, and preferably have a thin wall thickness to reduce material costs and necklace weight. The bead members 20a and 20b have a pair of diametrally opposed holes 24, which communicate with the cavities 22a and 22b of the bead members. A seam 25 communicates one hole 24 with the other hole 24 of each bead member and facilitates the spreading apart of the bead member.

Each pair of successive bead members 20a and 20b-20 is movably coupled by a spacer link 26. Each spacer link 26 is formed into several distinct portions. The first of these, a spacer portion 28, is formed into a decorative shape, which in FIG. 1 is shown as being spherical. The spacer link 26 also includes a pair of head portions 32 which are oppositely disposed on either side of the spacer portion 28 and which are joined to the spacer portion by a respective pair of neck portions 30. Since the spacer portion 28 of the spacer links 26 contributes to the attractive and decorative features of the beaded linkage, the spacer links should also be made of a suitably attractive material, similarly to the bead members 20a and 20b-20n.

It has been found that providing a relatively large bead member enables linked beads to be manufactured having great flexibility so that they hang in a smoothflowing arc with no distortions, while still providing suitable strength characteristics. These requirements have been found to be met for a hole 24 which ranges in diameter from about 30 to 50 percent, and preferably about 40 percent, of the outside diameter of the bead member. The neck portions 30 of the spacer link 26 should be within the range of about 40 to 60 percent of the diameter of the spacer portion 28, and preferably about one-half of the diameter of the spacer portion 28. The outside diameter of the spacer portion 28 should be larger than that of the spacer links, but not exceeding the diameter of the hole 24, while the maximum diameter of the head portions 32 should be from about 120 to 150 percent of the diameter of the hole 24, and preferably about 130 percent of the diameter of the hole.

Many decorative shapes for the bead members 20a and 20b-20:1 will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. In addition to varying the shapes of the bead members, the shape of the spacer portion 28 can also be varied to obtain attractive and pleasing effects. Accordingly, in FIG. 4 a spacer link 26a is shown in which the spacer portion 28a is diamond-shaped. In FIG.

the spacer link 26h has an oval-shaped spacer portion 28b, while in FIG. 6, the spacer link 260 has a cylindrically shaped spacer portion 28c.

FIGS. '7, 8 and 9 schematically illustrate a method of manufacturing the decorative and flexible linked beads shown in FIGS. 1-6. In FIG. 7, a tubular member 36 is progressively formed into a plurality of spacer links 26a, 26b and 26c-26n. Successive spacer links 26a, 26b, and 260-2611, however, are not broken apart as yet, but are joined at a breaking point 38 having an acute angle so that when the tubular member 36 is bent the successive spacer links 26 will break apart at the breaking point 38. The machine for progressively forming the tubular member 36 may be any of the several types well known to a person skilled in the art.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates the formation of the bead members 20 around the spacer links 26a, 26b, and 26c26n. After the spacer links are formed from the tubular member 36, the unbroken length of spacer links is delivered conjointly with a flat strip 40 through a draw bushing 42 which folds the strip 40 around the attached spacer links 26a, 26b, and 26a-26m to form a large tube 44 coaxially disposed around the spacer links. The large tube, along with the enclosed, joined spacer links, is then fed into another progressive die which forms the bead members 200 and 20b20n from the large tube 44. As can be seen in FIG. 8, each of the bead members is formed around two head portions 32, with the head portions being from different and successive spacer links 26a, 26b, and 26c26n. The progressive die for forming the members 20 can also be any of several types well known to persons skilled in the art.

After formation of the bead members 20, the bead members are cut apart at the last step of the progressive die. Then the unbroken length of attached spacer links, disposed within the large beads, is drawn over a system of rollers 46a, 46b and 460, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 9. The rollers break the spacer links 26 apart at the breaking points 38, thus allowing the spacer links 26 to spread apart until the head portions 32 of the spacer links 26 contact the inner periphery of the surrounding bead member 20. A plurality of rollers 46a, 46b and 46c are provided to ensure the breaking apart of all of the spacer links 26 by bending the spacer links first in one direction and then in the other direction.

The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will be able to make numerous variations and modifications of them without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included in the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Flexible linked beads suitable for jewelry purposes comprising a plurality of hollow bead members having diametrally opposed holes, the diameter of the holes being about 30 to 50 percent of the maximum diameter of the bead members,

a plurality of spacer links, each spacer link including a central spacer portion intermediate with the ends of said link, a pair of head portions oppositely disposed about said spacer portion, and a pair of neck portions fixedly coupling said head portions respectively to said spacer portion, the central spacer portion having a maximum outside diameter equal to the diameter of the holes, the neck portions having a diameter which is smaller than the maximum diameter of the spacer portion which is about 40 to 60 percent of the diameter of 5 the spacer portions, and the head portions having an outside diameter of about 120 to 150 percent of the diameter of the holes, and

each spacer link movably coupling a successive pair of bead members, said spacer link extending through one of the holes in each of said pair of bead members and engaging at least part of the inner periphery of the bead member at its head portion.

2. Flexible linked beads according to claim I wherein the bead members and the spacer portions are decoratively shaped.

3. Flexible linked beads according to claim 2 wherein the central spacer portions of the spacer links are diamond-shaped.

4. Flexible linked beads according to claim 2 wherein the central spacer portions of the spacer links are ovalshaped.

5. Flexible linked beads according to claim 2 wherein the central spacer portions of the spacer links are cylindrically shaped.

6. Flexible linked beads according to claim 2 wherein the central spacer portions of the spacer links are spherically shaped.

7. Flexible linked beads according to claim 1 wherein the bead members have a seam communicating one hole with the other hole. 

1. Flexible linked beads suitable for jewelry purposes comprising a plurality of hollow bead members having diametrally opposed holes, the diameter of the holes being about 30 to 50 percent of the maximum diameter of the bead members, a plurality of spacer links, each spacer link including a central spacer portion intermediate with the ends of said link, a pair of head portions oppositely disposed about said spacer portion, and a pair of neck portions fixedly coupling said head portions respectively to said spacer portion, the central spacer portion having a maximum outside diameter equal to the diameter of the holes, the neck portions having a diameter which is smaller than the maximum diameter of the spacer portion which is about 40 to 60 percent of the diameter of the spacer portions, and the head portions having an outside diameter of about 120 to 150 percent of the diameter of the holes, and each spacer link movably coupling a successive pair of bead members, said spacer link extending through one of the holes in each of said pair of bead members and engaging at least part of the inner periphery of the bead member at its head portion.
 2. Flexible linked beads according to claim 1 wherein the bead members and the spacer portions are decoratively shaped.
 3. Flexible linked beads according to claim 2 wherein the central spacer portions of the spacer links are diamond-shaped.
 4. Flexible linked beads according to claim 2 wherein the central spacer portions of the spacer links are oval-shaped.
 5. Flexible linked beads according to claim 2 wherein the central spacer portions of the spacer links are cylindrically shaped.
 6. Flexible linked beads according to claim 2 wherein the central spacer portions of the spacer links are spherically shaped.
 7. Flexible linked beads according to claim 1 wherein the bead members have a seam communicating one hole with the other hole. 